A Chinese anti-trust regulator said on Monday it has given Microsoft Corp 20 days to reply to queries on the compatibility of its Windows operating system and Office software suite amid a probe into the world’s largest software firm. The State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) questioned Microsoft vice president David Chen and gave the company a deadline to make an explanation, the agency said in a short statement on its website. Microsoft is one of at least 30 foreign companies that have come under scrutiny by China’s anti-monopoly regulators as the government seeks to enforce its six-year old antitrust law. Critics say the law is being used to unfairly target overseas businesses, a charge the regulators deny. According to a state media report on Monday, Microsoft’s use of verification codes also spurred complaints from Chinese companies.
